If you ever find yourself in need of the services of a personal injury lawyer, you need to know exactly what you need in order to increase your chances. Personal injury cases are very serious matters and you only get a single chance to present your claim. In order to make the most of it, you need to be prepared to ask some difficult questions to any personal injury lawyer you could potentially work with.

Here are a few questions to get you started in your search for the right personal injury attorney.

6. Do you have experience in cases similar to mine?

There are several lawyers out there who are eager to take on accident or injury cases. This area of the law is one of the most advertised and you will absolutely need to ask if they’ve handled anything similar to your type of case. Be sure to ask about their results.

5. What is your contingency fee?

In majority of personal injury cases, the fee is usually based on a contingency fee agreement. This means that you won’t need to pay any legal fees if you lose your case. If you have a strong case, you’ll be sure to find a good lawyer who will accept your case and agree on a contingency fee.

These fees can range around 20% to 40% but is usually negotiable. The more serious the case, the more negotiable the fee.

4. Do you charge advanced case costs if we lose?

While you’re asking for about the contingency fee, be sure to bring up the topics of advanced case costs. These are usually expensive and almost always taken out of the client’s share. Make sure to get a guarantee that you will not cover any costs even if your case fails.

3. When will you file my lawsuit?

The sooner you can start on working on your case, the better. Delays can hurt your chances but there are several instances of personal injury or accident lawyers taking their time while working on a case ranging from being too busy with other cases to spending more time signing up other clients. Try asking if they can file your case within a period of 2 weeks.

2. How much is my case worth?

While they usually won’t be able to give an exact answer, you’ll at least be given a general estimate depending on your circumstances as well as explain to you how they came up with that number. Even if you are partially responsible for an accident you may be eligible for a big payout.

1. What will you need me to do during the lawsuit?

The better you are able to work with your lawyer on a lawsuit, the better your chances will be. Some lawyers prefer to minimize client involvement but if you are passionate about your case, you may want to be more involved with the proceedings.

More important than all these questions is how comfortable you feel working with that lawyer. You shouldn’t hire anybody that you do not feel good about. You’ll be working together for a while so make sure you see eye-to-eye on all matters.